Kanji:
万歳 or
万才
Japanese: banzai
Simplified Chinese:
万岁
Traditional Chinese:
萬歳
Mandarin Chinese: wansui
Originally an exclamation of jubilation and praise to an emperor or a king, in conjunction with body gestures. In the
16th century Chinese literature Journey to the West, the
Monkey King (
Son Goku in
Japanese translations) is hailed by his obsequious followers with three cheers: "wansui! wansui! wan-wansui!!" with three bows. The Japanese word
banzai comes from the Chinese word
wansui, literally meaning ten thousand years.
During WWII, a crowd of Japanese would shout banzai three times in unison to celebrate a victory: "Tenno heika (
the emperor) banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"
Chairman Mao, who was a
Chinese Communist leader of the past, was also praised with shouts of wansui by emotionally charged crowds, where each individuals held onto
little red books.
Chairman Mao happened to be a big fan of
Monkey King, by the way.
In Japan nowadays, a "banzai!" exclamation is usually a celebratory expression of jubilation without any connotation of praise to an authority or higher power. (e.g.: "Banzai! I got into Nerd College!" or "Banzai! I won the lottery.") The act of raising both arms is also called a banzai in Japan, since people raise both hands high up with each shout of "banzai!"